Book Club

One of my favorite things about my job is Grade 3 book club. I used to think that it would be nice if every day was book club - but the truth is, I love all the stuff in-between book club meetings as much as I love book club. It reminds me of a story I heard about Wayne Gretzky once. He said he loved everything aobut hockey. He loved practice. He loved packing up his hockey bag. He loved going on the bus to an away game. He loved it all.

I love sharing books with kids. I'm slowly mastering the art of giving them enough to get them interested, and then handing them the book to quench their thirst.

The other day I read a bit from the book this month to my class. I just wanted to make sure, after the break, that everyone remembered about book club. I wanted to get some kids excited about reading this book who might have forgotten about it. And I hadn't prepared another book talk to share for our library time (First day back! What can I say?!)

It was a bit from early on in the story. I talked about what happened in the beginning. It was delightful to have some of the kids correct me and add to what I had to say. Then I read the bit about Edward getting tossed of the ship and sinking into the ocean...down, down, down. I read it dramatically and quietly. I could tell I really had them. I love those moments. They wanted more. I told them we were out of time, but if they were interested they could sign the book out. Sure enough someone did.

"I used to think I wouldn't like to read that book but I now I think I will read it." he said. Music to my ears!

Sharing the book during library time reminded me that I really do love every part of book club.

I love going to pick up books and passing them out. It makes me feel like Santa Claus! Or maybe Oprah: You get a book! And you get a book! And you get a book!

I love having kids yell to me in the hall as they come in to let me know what chapter they're on, or ask me what chapter I'm on.

I love creating quizzes for kids to do on Edmodo and seeing the notifications roll in as they do the quiz.

I love reading favorite parts of the book to my class and having someone who wasn't reading it say, "I think I want to read that book too."

I love having kids ask me how many more days there are until our book club meeting.

I love having kids tell me at recess that they really love the book.

I love it when kids tell me how many chapters they have left, or how many they're going to read each day to finish on time.

I love it when kids come to me the day before book club and tell me they've really been trying, but they're not finished the book, and they're wondering if they could come to book club meeting anyway (My response is always: If you've been really trying, and if you promise to finish it, sure, you can come!)

I love it when kids tell me they really don't like the book. We talk about why and I ask them if they will please still come to book club because we want to have discussions with people who don't like it as much as people who do like it.

I love perusing the shelves at United Library Services to see what they have lots of copies of, reading blogs and scouring the public library website to pick the next book.

I love coming up with ideas with the other teachers for the activity for our book club meeting.

I love book club!

Time Management

One thing that is tricky about being a teacher is time management. I discovered early on that I could spend hours in my classroom thinking I was preparing, without actually accomplishing anything. I am working hard to stay focused on what matters most, to leverage my time by making good use of volunteers who so graciously come into my classroom each week, and by keeping good lists. If I spend a few minutes each morning planning my day, making lists and writing down my goals, I get so much more done!

"It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste."

- Henry Ford

Quality of Life

Today, in Social Studies, we talked about things that make our quality of life better. I loved  the ideas that everyone came up with.

We did a placemat consensus. The items in the circle are the ones everyone agreed on. Individual items are on the sides.

You can kind of tell this one has Mrs. Ackroyd from student #2. Interesting that I didn't make it into the circle! LOL

Twitter in the Classroom

About two months ago, I decided to sign up on Twitter. I kept reading about twitter chats on blogs that I follow and wanted to be a part of those chats. I've discovered a whole new world through Twitter!

I'm really keen to use it in my classroom, but first I'm focusing on learning how to use it well as a professional learning network.

If you have any great blog posts or articles to share for a new Twitter user, feel free to comment!

Rock Star Status

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a rock star? I think being a teacher is pretty close. It's always fun for my own children to see responses from kids from my school when we run into them outside of school. They're always surprised, often a little giddy, and always quite exuberant. How can a teacher not love it?!

Today was our first day back after the break. I had to miss the morning though for some extended PD. When I returned at lunch time I was surrounded by kids from my class who all had stories to share and questions to ask:

Mrs. Ackroyd, you're back! Where were you this morning?

Mrs. Ackroyd, do you like my hair cut?
Guess what Mrs. Ackroyd, I got two guinea pigs!

Mrs. Ackroyd, today for gym we had to have gym in our classroom because the gym had an emergency.

Mrs. Ackroyd I cleaned up the library corner.

Mrs. Ackroyd I finished my rough copy early, did you read it?
Mrs. Ackroyd, where were you this morning?
Mrs. Ackroyd, want to know what I got for Christmas?
Mrs. Ackroyd, do you know what books I took out of the library?
Mrs. Ackroyd, where were you this morning?

Mrs. Ackroyd, I finished the book club book!

Mrs. Ackroyd, I forgot the book club book at school.

Mrs. Ackroyd, I don't celebrate Christmas so I didn't get any presents.

Mrs. Ackroyd, where were you this morning?

Pretty soon I answered all the questions and listened to all the stories, and everyone settled into quiet reading time. I sat down in my desk and just had to smile about how much I like these kids. They've worked their way into my heart, that's for sure!

Ed Tech PD Day

Today was a wild ride. It wasn't easy being back to work. As I made my way to our high school for our PD Day I thought having a day like this on the first day back is crazy. Then I got listening to the Key Note speaker, George Couros, and I got excited. He was a fabulous speaker! He had some great stories, some fabulous examples of effectively using technology in education, and was very entertaining. Lovely day!

During the second session I went to an iPad session and learned about a  couple more apps. It was very energizing as well. It's amazing how little by little I've become better at the iPad! Today I learned about Tellagami and Perfect Video. I made a video for my students for tomorrow while I have a sub for some additional PD with George Couros.





During the last hour I presented. By this time, man was I tired. It is rough being back to work! (I know....whine whine)

My topic was reading and technology. My slides are here.

My goals from the PD Day are to start a blog for writing with my students (and I didn't even attend a blogging workshop....although George did talk about that a bit). I think it'll provide an authentic audience for my students, and hopefully, help them be motivated to be even better writers.

I also plan to blog more myself, and continue to implement tech tools into my classroom routines. My next thing to learn is how to use QR codes to share our science projects.

Game Face

As I slowly move from vacation mode back to game time, I had to chuckle at this quote from The Boy in the Box:

There is a moment, just before curtain, when a transformation takes place, when players leave behind their ordinary beings and become their larger, dramatic selves. It happens whether the stage is large or small, the audience a handful or in the thousands. It happens whether the actors are famous or unknown. And although he could not have described it in words, Sullivan felt it happen. He even saw it in Master Melville's face just before going on - he became eager, smiling and confident.

Isn't that how teaching is? Just before the morning bell, a transformation takes place and teachers leave behind their ordinary beings and become their larger, kinder, wiser, insightful, dramatic selves. Okay...maybe not every day - but it happens sometimes! I also love how he describes everything when the show is over:

When the last bottle was sold and the last audience member had wandered off, the performers had to clean up, for the crowd had left behind food wrappers and plastic bottles and paper cups on the grass. The slow had already begun to face, leaving behind simple fatigue. And there was something else that Sullivan sensed, almost a feeling of loss, or emptiness.

Yup. I'm looking forward to getting back!